Scott County
VA · Pop. 21,504 · Suburban County
Scott County is a suburban county in Virginia, spanning 536 square miles with 21,504 residents at a density of 40.1 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $122,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.68% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 192-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.5°F and average winter lows of 27.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 43.1 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Holston Valley Medical Center is 11.4 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 192-day growing season in USDA zone 7a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.68% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $122,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.9% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- The nearest hospital, Holston Valley Medical Center, is 11.4 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- A poverty rate of 18% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
Scott County, VA is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 78/100
- Median home price
- $122k
- Property tax
- 0.68%
- Growing season
- 192 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 43.1"
- Broadband
- 97.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Holston Valley Medical Center, 11.4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Scott County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Scott County?
- Scott County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 192-day growing season, average summer highs of 86.5°F, and average winter lows of 27.7°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $122,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.68%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Holston Valley Medical Center is 11.4 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore Virginia Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Virginia
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The closest counties to Scott County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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